Mission Statement: The Pendleton Community Public Library provides library services, creative initiatives, and up-to-date technology in a comfortable facility with friendly, helpful staff.

Information Regarding Communities Served: The History of Pendleton; City data profile of Pendleton; Markleville; Ingalls; Madison County.

ALA Statements: The Pendleton Community Public Library supports the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and Code of Ethics. The community's demographics also serve as a guide in the selection of services and materials.

Materials Selection Responsibilities: The final responsibility and authority for the selection and maintenance of library materials and services rests with the Library Director acting within the framework of the policies of the Board of Trustees. Materials are selected to meet collection needs by the Director, Assistant Director/Children's Librarian, and Reference Librarians. All selectors welcome and evaluate suggestions for material acquisition from the community.

Please note that while all of PCPL’s physical holdings have been selected using this collection development policy, the library does belong to a consortium in order to expand our digital offerings. eBooks and digital audiobooks are not necessarily selected by our librarians, but membership in purchasing consortiums for digital materials offers our patrons a wealth of material that would otherwise be cost prohibitive for the library.

Materials Selection Categories and Criteria:

Adult Collection - fiction/non-fiction books, audiobooks, eBooks, large print, reference materials, music CDs, periodicals, online databases & DVDs.

Teen Collection - fiction/non-fiction books, audiobooks, eBooks, periodicals & graphic novels.

Children's Collection - fiction/non-fiction books, audiobooks, CD-ROMs, eBooks, periodicals, reference materials, games & manipulatives.

The library strives to offer its patrons access to current, relevant, informative, educational, cultural and popular materials. All selectors evaluate potential additions to the collection based on the following:

  • Patron interest and demand.
  • Relevance to community needs.
  • The extant collection, and future circulation estimates based on selection criteria.
  • Quality of writing, production or illustration.
  • Scope, accuracy, and currency of content.
  • Appropriateness of subject, style, and reading level for intended audience.
  • Critical reviews by experts and the public.
  • Suitability of physical format for library use.
  • Budget awareness.
  • Existence in the Public Domain: while the library maintains several texts considered "classics" the evolving nature of the collection requires that some public domain materials are retrieved, for free, via Project Gutenberg or Interlibrary Loan.

Selection Tools: The process of selection is guided by the following resources:

  • Reviews in professional and popular journals including, but not limited to, Library Journal, Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal, Scholastic, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Book Page, Bookmarks, and VOYA.
  • Reviews on websites and blogs including, but not limited to, Amazon.com, All Music, the American Bookseller Association's Indie Next List, the American Library Association, National Book Award finalists, and LibraryThing.
  • Award winners including, but not limited to, the Pulitzer Prize, the Man Booker Prize, the Caldecott Medal, the Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Award, the Alex Award, the Nobel Prize, the Oscar, the Grammy, the American Music Awards, and the People's Choice Awards.
  • Vendor catalogs and online pre-pub reviews including those from Baker & Taylor, Ingram, Scholastic, H.W. Wilson, Midwest Tape, Gale/Cengage, Follett, Content Reserve; selectors utilize several publishers and vendors. The Children's Department, for example, selects the best resources from many different vendors.
  • Best seller lists as published in the New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, as well as author book tours, books into film notices, NPR author interviews, and other media coverage.

Collection and Deselection: The collection of materials within the library is continually, informally evaluated for relevance, circulation statistics, and physical condition. Items deemed outdated, unused and/or in disrepair are removed and/or replaced, as needed.

The collection is formally deselected using the guidelines found in the Pendleton Community Library Deselection Guidelines: A Supplement to the Collection Policy.

Gifts: The Pendleton Community Public Library accepts gifts of materials; after evaluation by library staff, PCPL reserves the right to donate and/or dispose of items in accordance with the criteria comprising the collection policy. Materials in good condition, not added to the library's collection, are sold in the Friends of the Library book sale, or are donated to local charities and institutions. As a general rule, the library does not accept artifacts.

Reconsideration of Library Materials: Request forms for the reconsideration of library materials are available to the public. The Library Director, Assistant Director and/or Reference Librarians will review any completed forms and send a written response to the requestor within a reasonable amount of time, not to exceed one week after the next scheduled Library Board of Trustees meeting.

Review: This policy, as well as the deselection policy, will be periodically reviewed to ensure that it represents the most current needs of the library and the community it serves.

The Pendleton Community Library Deselection Guidelines: a Supplement to the Collection Development Policy

It is the goal of the Pendleton Community Public Library to maintain a collection that not only meets the objective of the mission statement, but also meets the needs of its patrons by providing high quality, relevant, and aesthetically pleasing materials. By its very nature, a library collection must be evolving, and evaluation of materials is conducted by all professional library staff on a regular basis. The final deselection decision, and the formal evaluation and maintenance of the library’s collection, is the responsibility of the adult and children’s librarians.

The following criteria are applied in the evaluation/deselection process:

  • The physical condition of the item: Materials with missing pieces, torn and/or stained conditions are removed from the library’s collection. Further research is conducted before items are replaced.
  • The circulation status of the item: In general, fiction and non-fiction texts should not sit untouched for more than 5 years. Some non-fiction categories demand more stringent replacement consideration due to the nature of the subject. See Appendix A for Dewey classification from the CREW (continuous review, evaluation and weeding) method of deselection. See Appendix B for deselection guidance questions. Digital, media and audio materials have a 1-3 year circulation requirement depending on the material.
  • The relevance and age of the material: See Appendices A and B for specific guidelines.
  • Special Collections inclusion: Literary criticism, Indiana authors, items of local significance, genealogical studies, religious studies, some reference materials, and items donated "In Memory" are often exempt from the criteria of age and circulation status. Librarians evaluate historical significance, reference availability, and community needs in regards to these items. See Appendices A and B for specific guidelines.
  • Duplications: The library typically leases duplicate copies of popular titles when published. Occasionally, due to high demand, a duplicate copy will be purchased. After high demand has waned, these items are transferred to the Read 'n' Feed collection, or saved for replacement if needed.

Appendix A: CREW (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding)
(Dewey non-fiction categories and special collection development guidelines)

000s-Computer science, knowledge, and systems:

010 Bibliographies
020 Library and Information Sciences
030 Encyclopedias and books of facts
050 Magazines, journals and serials
060 Associations, organizations, museums
070 News media, journalism, publishing
080 Quotations
090 Manuscripts and rare books

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: Encyclopedias must be kept updated every 5 years, but this can be in online or database availability; computer information must be updated at a pace similar to its related technology.

100-Philosophy

110 Metaphysics
120 Epistemology (the nature of knowledge)
130 Parapsychology and occultism
140 Philosophical schools of thought
150 Psychology
160 Logic
170 Ethics
180 Ancient, medieval, Eastern philosophy
190 Modern Western philosophy

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: self-help books should be updated more frequently than the 5-8 year guideline for scholarship in this area.

200-Religion

210 Philosophy and theory of religion
220 The Bible
230 Christianity, Christian theology
240 Christian practice and observance
250 Christian pastoral practice and religious orders
260 Christian organization, social work and worship
270 History of Christianity
280 Christian denominations
290 Other religions

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: Popular religious leaders’ works should be included, and the collection should not only reflect the needs of the community, but the global community as well. All major religions should be represented by a current (fewer than 8 years old) text.

300-Social Sciences, sociology, anthropology

310 Statistics
320 Political Science
330 Economics
340 Law
350 Public administration and military science
360 Social problems and social services
370 Education
380 Commerce, communications, transportation
390 Costumes, Rites, Ceremonies, Folklore

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: Almanacs must be updated within 2 years. Statute/law information must be current, though vetted online sources may substitute for physical texts. The collection must contain a balance of perspectives.

400 Languages

410 Linguistics
420 English and Old English languages
430 German and related languages
440 French and related languages
450 Italian, Romanian and related languages
460 Spanish and Portuguese languages
470 Latin and Italic languages
480 Classic and modern Greek languages
490 Other languages

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: Some of these books have heavy circulation; their physical condition should be regularly evaluated.

500 Pure Science

510 Mathematics
520 Astronomy
530 Physics
540 Chemistry
550 Earth sciences and geology
560 Fossils and prehistoric life
570 Life sciences, biology
580 Plants (botany)
590 Animals (zoology)

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: Historical works must be retained, but this area of the collection must otherwise be continuously updated.

600 Applied Science, Technology

610 Medicine and health
620 Engineering
630 Agriculture
640 Home and family management (including cookbooks)
650 Management and public relations
660 Chemical engineering
670 Manufacturing
680 Manufacture for specific uses
690 Building and construction

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: Car repair manuals should be kept, or replaced if condition and availability warrant. The library's car repair database (ALLDATA) begins with vehicles manufactured in 1982, and is only available to patrons within the library itself. Medical/health topics should be very current. Technological advances should be noted, and items covering these areas must be current.

700 Arts

710 Landscaping and area planning
720 Architecture
730 Sculpture, ceramics, metalwork
740 Drawing and decorative arts
750 Painting
760 Graphic arts
770 Photography and computer art
780 Music
790 Sports, games, entertainment (humor)

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: Art & music histories can be kept in the collection as long as the item is in good physical condition. Other areas, especially the decorative arts (crochet, knitting, etc.), should be refreshed with new selections yearly. This area is a popular one for PCPL patrons; new materials are appreciated.

800s Literature, rhetoric, criticism

810 American literature in English
820 English and Old English literatures
830 German and related literatures
840 French and related literatures
850 Italian, Romanian and related literatures
860 Spanish and Portuguese literatures
870 Latin and Italic literatures
880 Classic and modern Greek literatures
890 Other literatures

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: This area should be compared to reading lists from local school systems, and copies of all items should be in good condition.

900s-History

910 Geography and travel
920 Biography and genealogy
930 History of the ancient world (to circa 499)
940 History of Europe
950 History of Asia
960 History of Africa
970 History of North America
980 History of South America
990 History of other areas

In addition to deselection policy procedures, the following restrictions exist for this section: These items should be evaluated for accuracy and a balance of perspectives. Travel guides especially must be kept current within 2 years.

B-Biography- It is important to keep up with new releases, and retain well written biographies of persons of significance.

R-Reference- The Reference collection requires special consideration because these items do not circulate. Annuals, collection values, technological, medical and science works that are not available in a database like INSPIRE, must be updated annually. Revised editions should replace previous editions except in the case of supplements and dictionaries.

Local History Collection- Much of the history collection is in the process of being digitized; this includes some primary source material as well as irreplaceable secondary sources. Many of these paper items will be saved from disintegration by this process.

Sources:

Boon, Belinda. (1995). The CREW method; expanded guidelines for collection evaluation and weeding for small and medium-sized public libraries. Austin, Texas. Revised and updated by Larson, Jeanette. (2008). CREW: a weeding manual for modern libraries. (2011). Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved, 2012, https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/index.html.

Eberhart, George M. (2006). The whole library handbook. 4th ed. Chicago: American Library Association.

The Pendleton Community Public Library Collection Development Policy. Adopted July 8, 1998; Reviewed December 19, 2002.

The Pendleton Community Public Library Weeding Guidelines.

Appendix B-Deselection Questions to Guide the Weeding Process

Fiction and Media:

  • When did this item last circulate? Has it not circulated for 5 years or more (texts)? Did it circulate frequently in the past? Has it not circulated in the past 1-3 years (media)?
  • Who is the author? Is he/she notable, local, recently receiving media attention, award-winning?
  • Is this author part of any local schools’ curriculum?
  • Is there renewed or local interest in this subject matter, i.e. a film is being made, a local school is studying this topic, the topic is local?
  • Is the item considered a classic? Should the library have a physical copy of this "classic" rather than rely on a free eBook version or interlibrary loan? Will this item become a "classic"?
  • How was this item critically received? Did the item win awards?
  • In what physical condition is the item? Are there stains, tears, ripped pages, loose pages or binding? Is it pleasing to look at? If item is a DVD or audio CD (books and music), does the entire item play in its entirety?
  • How many copies of this item does the library own? If considered mandatory to the collection, is the item replaceable?

Non-fiction -use the above questions in addition to the following:

  • Is the subject matter one that needs to stay current (see Appendix A for list)?
  • Does the item have information not found in non-print formats such as databases, Google scholar, and online sources?
  • Is the item considered the best resource printed on that particular topic? Is it the definitive source for researchers?
  • Is there local interest in the subject matter or author of the item?
  • Does the item have value even though it is outdated? If so, what value?

Finally, the library considers the collection an evolving entity, just as its patrons' needs are evolving. All items in the collection should be considered with this in mind.


Adopted by the Pendleton Community Public Library Board of Trustees
March 14, 2012

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